~ gifts and new ventures ~

I hope every one's having a wonderful weekend! I had done a post a few weeks ago on finding some time to pamper yourself. I had featured a few lovelies to add to your Bath and mentioned I was in need of some pampering myself. So sweet Janet over at Lunada Bay Soap Company was so thoughtful and sent me some of her gorgeous Soaps to try. Well, Janet, it was just what this Cottage girl needed! Your kindness and generosity warmed my heart and pampered my soul. Thank You so so much! You all should go and give her site a look and order yourself some lovely soap too! They are just fabulous, so I thought I'd share.....

The scents are amazing! and better yet, they make your skin feel beautiful and pampered!
Thank You Janet, your Soaps are wonderful and not only that, but they are wrapped like little presents, all in my favorite colors too! You are so sweet!

Its' been such a busy couple of weeks in my office. That pampering was just what I needed. I started my online Cottage Shop a month or so ago and it's been such a fun new addition to my Design Business. I am constantly working to make it into a site that everyone can love. It started out very small, with Design Services and a few little accessories , but I am working with NY sales reps on expanding it, so I thought I'd take a minute and post some pics of things to come... My goal is to have it filled with Services, accessories, lighting, furniture , fabrics, etc. I am slowly getting there. The line I am carrying is not up on the website yet, but I thought it would be great to feature it here and get your feedback. Feel free to leave comments on the things I've started to choose for my Cottage furniture choices. If you have thoughts on things you'd like to see in an online Cottage shop , feel free to share too!
The chair above is available in any fabric, but I just adore this creamy yellow floral with red gingham trim! and the ruffled skirt is so sweet!
I love mixing Cottage looks with glorious crystal lighting, and finding a few pieces for the shop has been so much fun.
Of course it will also have that Vintage shabby Cottage feel too, with furniture that is unusual and special....
And a line of white sofas and chairs , with slipcovers that can just be thrown in the wash too, practical is just as important as pretty :) this one below made me smile , I love the ruffled welting!!

I also like mixing in a few Traditional pieces that have fabrics that blend in with the Cottage look! I am hoping to update the website within the month. It's been a bit of work laying it all out, but once it's done, I will be glad to have a place to feature my favorite things!
I Hope you enjoyed a little peek into my new venture, and also found a few things to pamper your body and soul! I am working on another post , but just wanted to fit this one in on a busy Sunday. I hope the weekend is finding you all happy and well! Thanks so much as always for being so supportive and leaving such sweet comments too! Happy Sunday!

Hugs and Thanks,

~ Cynthia ~

~ Pretty Shopping ~

Happy Valentines Day to all my sweet readers! I just got the sweetest package of goodies the other day from Lidy at The French Garden House. Her site has always been a favorite of mine. She has such a talent for finding the most beautiful accessories and goodies! I've had my eye on this french market bag forever, I've always wanted one. Perfect for bringing to the market and filling with fresh goods! I cannot thank you enough Lidy!
I will think of you every time I am at the market grabbing my little extras... This vintage photo was so nostalgic to me, it looks like she could use a little market bag too! :)

If you don't already know Lidy's site, pop over for visit, I am sure you will find so many things to stir your fancy! Click her logo below and grab a cup of tea or a glass of french wine and enjoy! It's stunning!
These little stickers were in my box too! I love them! I cannot wait to do my next decoupage project with them! aren't the colors amazing?!!....

And also these Gorgeous bowls! I love cherries and of course checks, so I couldn't be happier with them!
A little up close shot, they go so well in my kitchen and come summer will be filled with fresh cherries too! Thank you so much Lidy! You made my week! I love everything!

I find such inspiring stores online, here is a picture below of the famous Vermont Country Store. They have a really neat site filled with very hard to find items. Items our Mom's had, and Dad's too. Their catalog is so vintage looking, and just seeing everything brings you back to a simpler time!
As most of you do too I'm sure, I balance my shopping online with shopping in stores too. Long Island has so many beautiful quaint Villages and living here can be a shoppers dream :) I especially love SouthHampton, NY. The town is famous for many reasons, but for me, its the huge General Store called Hildreth's. Oh I so wish I could show you the inside! It sells everything from furniture to tools to bedding, my word, you name it, they have it! You'll just have to check out their site to see for yourself :) Or come to NY and we'll go shopping together :)....
Well, I put my little market bag to good use today, I picked up some fresh Daisies ( my favorite ) for $3.99 and 2 loafs of bread. Gotta go run and start the meatballs, It's meatball hero's for dinner tonight...
and I'll leave you with a little happy thought ;).... It's not too far off that we will be shopping in outdoor markets again, and bringing home the goodies to set up outside like this photo below. I've said this a few times in every post, but oh I so so cannot wait to be warm and feel the Spring air !!

I love evenings outside so much! I love the feeling of having so much fresh air, that you actually get tired from being out in it all day, and you come back inside when the sun sets and grab a book and relax, still having the windows open and feeling the remnants of the day...Oh I love you Spring! Hurry here!

Here are some goodie books to get you all ready for that time of year. ( porch photo source: country living )

Enjoy!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and it's finding you healthy and happy!

Thank you so much for all your sweet comments, you've made my long winter just a bit shorter by always bringing such warmth and sunshine into my days!

Many Hugs,

~ Cynthia ~

~ A little creative escape ~

Hello to all my readers....I want to thank everyone for all the extra prayers sent to Becky , I am still , as all of you are too, in such heartbreak for her and her family and I know when she is ready to come back, it will warm her heart to know such love and support. Most times , creativity flows from me when I'm the happiest. But sometimes when life is harder than normal and I question things, I try and escape a bit into a project or an endeavor to keep my mind busy and I suppose to find some joy in simple things. Whether that's hanging out with my kids, or if they are busy, then it's finding something to inspire me....So this week it was spent looking around for something that needed refreshing or something to lift up my spirit a bit...So I got out my brushes and picked on an old antique side table. It was pickled green before and now is brighter and filled with the colors of my Bath....a perfect escape it was...
I really love vintage soap labels, the colors are so pretty , and so tranquil too, perfect for a Bath retreat "home spa day"..... set them all around you and not just for guests , but to make you feel special and pampered a bit... I was inspired by the colors in it, to transform the table.....This picture below was the table before....
Afterword's I brought it out into the kitchen , a place I'm in so often that I like to put anything there that makes me happy. But it just doesn't work here, so back to the Bathroom in went.....
I think it's much better here below..... :) Which inspired me to make the Bath more of a retreat for the weekend that wasn't feeling too good or happy...

Sometimes I find it silly to think that material things, or changing around rooms can really brighten a persons outlook, but I believe it wasn't so much the end result, but in the "doing" that I escaped a bit and felt a little better...
The cabinet above is where I keep all my makeup and creams, and under the sink too, but I don't think that is photo material :) It will have to wait till spring, when I feel like throwing out anything older than a year like they say we should. I have nail polish that is as old as my daughter ( 13 ) ....lol... But I do have to say, on better days, the makeup counter at Ulta can be very dreamy :)

This is a view of the cabinet doors below, I fell in love with the etching and just had to have it....
I used to sew, but now the machine is gathering dust up in the attic :).... I was never very good at it, but this shower curtain in my Bath made me a bit too proud :) because I thought after this curtain was finished, I could sew anything! Oh was I so so wrong! So needless to say, it was my last project on the machine . I made it because I could never find a curtain to reach the floor in ready-mades, so off I went to do my own....
I love these Hand Towels below, they just arrived last week and they really soften the corner of the bath....Thanks Bekah!
Hand made and such pretty detail...
I adore soaps! again, silly and trite at times, but the colors and scents just make me feel so good. I use a lot of different brands, but as you can see, you can even dress up some sweet Ivory Soap and make it perfect for guests, or just to see a pretty little detail for yourself ....
I bought this towel rack last year at Home Goods, and on the back of the door to the Bath it's just perfect to hanging anything on....I added the rose decal :)
So go ahead and take a little time for you too, do something to lift you up , no matter what it is....
I've added a few favorite links to soap shops that I love , I hope you enjoy them, or find something you are looking for too...
These sweet "farm chic" soaps are such incredible soaps, they are smooth as silk on your skin and smell beautiful too! The Pretty little Hen soaps are from Bullet at Home ....
These pale pink cottage candle sticks are for sale in My Shop ....I just love using candles in a Bath, it makes it so much more tranquil....
And of course, I love walking into Crabtree and Evelyn , their stores are pure escape....I actually designed an entire bathroom around the box above for a client once, It was so pretty and uplifting in soft pale blues and whites....
Another good one , and one that it's in almost every Mall is..... The Body shop...and the Milk Bath is my favorite!

Remember to take a few moments or longer, to give to yourself as much as you give to others....we all give best from a full cup.... so when you're happy, or even when you're sad , take care of your spirit any way you enjoy ! I hope you all have a wonderful week! and Thank You for giving me a reason to escape a bit. I am a little behind on my blog surfing, so I am looking forward to visiting you all !!

Many Hugs and Blessings!

~ Cynthia ~

~ Prayers for Becky ~

To all my Dear Readers, I came on today to do a post and was just about to upload it, when I went in to check on how Becky's give-away was going ( I mentioned it in the previous post ) and was Heartbroken to hear that she lost her oldest Son yesterday. I am grieving for this poor family and how hard it must be to go through such a loss. Words would never be able to describe what she is feeling. I just ask that you please keep her and her family in your prayers and thoughts. Blogland is filled with so many uplifting and kind people, and I know she would appreciate any support and love you can send...

With Care and thanks,

~ Cynthia ~

~ Sweet Give-Away ~

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! I just had to let you in on a sweet give-away! My friend Becky, over at Sweet Cottage Dreams, is having a beautiful giveaway! If you haven't seen her blog yet, you've got to stop in and visit, I know you'll LOVE it! and she's as sweet as pie too!
Her blog and all of her creations are simply Scrumptious! Oh I wish I could sew like her! Don't you just love this pillow and all the fabrics?! Such sweet things, and I adore that tea towel too and this cottage sweet banner , oh my!....

Hope you all pay her a visit, she has so many more pictures of these items up close, Oh I am Cherry crazy too! Thank you for such a Sweet give-away Becky!

Hugs to all !

~ Cynthia ~